#tuak

I didn't realize the tune was For All We Know, We Might Be Dead By Tomorrow until much later.

He was just... there. Higher above anyone on the roof of the school building. As students streamed down the stairs and onto the courtyard below.

Menggantung hidup di langit-langit kamar,

menenggak tuak sampai batas bahkan melampauinya,

terjun di pinggir lembah yang siap memeluk hangat dalam kegelapan,

bercumbu dengan kuda mesin paling cepat di perempatan jalan,

menyelam kelam di laut temaram tak berpenjaga,

menusuk inti dari usapan ibu yang dijaga begitu hati-hati,

terbakar mengarang dengan erang yang menyakiti hati pemirsanya, dan

menyayat nadi yang tak pernah mau mengerti apa itu keji.

"Few people know who I really am," I confess, my hand still in the plastic bucket between us. Akito pauses and assumingly translates "few people" into "nobody."

"Not even Rune?" He makes a sprinkling motion, aiming at the girl who called him batshit and suggested he be locked up.

"Not even Rune," I confirm.

"Why?" Akito puffs his cheeks out, then blows onto his palm. Any powder remaining on his knuckles travels with the wind and ends up in my eyes.

Half blind, I reply, "He is unknowingly using me as an accessory." The pads of Akito's fingers come to my rescue.

"Rune doesn't know about my flaws, fatal ones," I continue. "He doesn't know those nights where I go insane over them. Rune just takes a flashlight and shines on me society's expectations and aids me in losing myself to the halo they claim I have. He keeps my chin up, brushes down my image when it stumbles into mud, and such. It's... I'm kind of sick of it."

"Do you know how many personas I have, Akito?" I ask out of the blue, meaning to startle him for the fun of it.

Akito smiles playfully. "I'd say seven."

I laugh. "I've lost track, actually," I admit. He doesn't stop smiling.

"Behind the brightness, Touya, is a guy who is as mad about Eve as I am about Utsu-P, but nobody should know that because your image doesn't allow you to headbang to depressing music. You're a Marlboro Green addict, but you can't smoke even a stick, because the public refuses to have their image of you surrounded by a layer of thick, stinky smoke."

At times, I'm in this random air-conditioned room, being the President of the Student Council, disciplined and a role model. Sometimes, I'm elsewhere, perhaps my homeroom, as a name, leading the chart of exam scores on the blackboard at the back of the room. A couple of other times, I might be the founder of one of my school's charity projects, responsible and strategic. I'm also here, there, and there, too. Everywhere, I have this halo behind me, some blinding light following my every step. People look at me in awe. Even Rune, who was intelligent enough, pretty enough, and bright enough to be my boyfriend. Rune says he likes me because he sees my halo.

Of course.

Everybody likes me because they see my halo.

The man in question started, a blush creeping across his cheeks.

"Ah... I... I'm a virgin with asthma," He muttered abashfully, rubbing the back of his neck.

His eyes dared to look up and meet Akito's — the ginger's usually olive green eyes are a deep shade of jade today, and at the moment staring at him incredulously. Finally, a chuckle escaped the latter's throat, followed by a laugh.

"I meant the band, dummy," Akito shook his head playfully, "You're so dirty-minded, tut tut."

The bluenette felt his face burning ever hotter. "Ah, my bad."

The redhead shifted over and lifted Touya's chin slightly, smiling his sickeningly irresistible smile.

"You've had too much to drink, Tou."

Akito climbed off Touya's lap after pressing a small, chaste kiss.

"I'll get you some water."

tuak rice spirit, Borneo Delight, Wayang St. Kuching (2023)

barbareto.com | Pria asal Keruak, Lombok Timur (Lotim) inisial MS diamankan petugas Polsek Praya Timur saat melintas di Jalan Raya Desa Mujur, Praya Timur Lombok Tengah (Loteng). Ia dimankan lantaran kedapatan membawa Minuman keras (Miras) jenis Tuak, menggunakan mobil, pada Kamis 31 Maret 2022. Kapolsek Praya Timur IPTU Sayum menjelaskan, sebelumnya anggota Polsek Praya Timur mendapatkan…